Western Banjo Frog or Pobblebonk  Limnodynastes dorsalis

 

Distribution and habitat: The Pobblebonk frog is found throughout the Perth area and the entire south-west of WA, from just south of Shark Bay to near Esperance. It occupies the vegetation adjacent to wetlands during winter, and during summer it moves away from the water, sheltering in a burrow.

Description: The Pobblebonk is a large reddish brown to golden frog which is covered in bold black patches over its back and hindlimbs. It can often be distinguished by a black bar running from its eye to above its forelimb and a pale white stripe running between its eyes and down its back. The groin is bright red and the toes slightly webbed.

Call: The call of the Pobblebonk or Banjo frog is as its name suggests, an "explosive bonk" similar to a banjo string being plucked! This is one of the most distinctive and much loved calls of all the WA frogs!

Breeding: Breeding of this species occurs during the wetter winter and autumn months, and also during spring. Males call concealed in waterside vegetation to attract females. The eggs of this species and all other Limnodynastes are distinctive in that spawn is laid in a foam nest.

Status: The Banjo frog is a common frog in the Perth region, although like many other frog species, has suffered from the loss of most of the Swan Coastal Plain wetlands due to development. However, it has doubtless benefited from the provision of dams in agricultural areas.
 

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Created: 6/2/99.